DHARAMSHALA, October 19: The Tibetan ‘Flame of Truth’ torch relay, during its campaign in the Indian state of Rajasthan, was received by the Honourable Speaker of the State Assembly and other prominent leaders, students, and Indian supporters.

Arriving in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, after a busy tour of the state of Gujarat, the torch was received by Tibetan sweater sellers based in the city, earlier this week.

Tibetan Member of Parliament, Karma Yeshi, who is leading the torch delegation, met with Deependra Singh Shekhawat, Honouarble Speaker of Rajasthan State Assembly.

Yeshi briefed the Speaker on the critical situation inside Tibet, heralded by the ongoing wave of self-immolations, and also submitted a memorandum on the issue of Tibet. Speaker Shekhawat expressed his solidarity with the Tibetan cause and signed the torch petition calling on the United Nations to discuss the issue of Tibet based on its earlier resolutions and to send an independent international fact-finding delegation to Tibet.

He also promised to forward the memorandum to the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India.

The torch delegation also met Ghanshyam Tiwari, deputy leader of opposition in the Rajasthan State Assembly.

As part of the torch campaign, MP Yeshi addressed the city’s journalists and spoke in length on the 55 self-immolations that have taken place in Tibet since 2009. He also emphasised on the importance of protecting Tibet's environment in the larger interest of India and the neighbouring south Asian countries.

Before leaving for its next stop in Bhopal, Tibetans in Jaipur organised a candle light vigil, carrying the ‘Flame of Truth’ torch, in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.

Elsewhere in the Indian capital city of New Delhi, Tibetan student activists carried out a prostration campaign in solidarity with the sacrifices being made by Tibetans in protest against China’s rule, Wednesday.

Tsultrim Dorjee and Tenzin Tsewang, both members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Rohini, dragged coffins, symbolic of the Tibetans who have “died under Chinese colonial rule,” while doing full body prostrations.

The students, wearing nothing but shorts and their bodies painted with colours of the Tibetan national flag, began their campaign from the Delhi University campus and concluded in front of a monastery in the Tibetan colony of New Aruna Nagar.

Speaking to Phayul, Dorjee said the prostration campaign was to express “solidarity with the Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives protesting against China’s occupation of Tibet.”

“Through this campaign, we also want to send a message to the Tibetan youth to not only take part but also lead activities and campaigns.”